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Song for the Snow
Can a long-forgotten song bring the snow back to Freya’s town? A lyrical fable from award-winning creators Jon-Erik Lappano and Byron Eggenschwiler.
Freya has always loved the snow and the way it covers everything like powdered sugar. But the snow hasn’t come to her town for two winters, and she’s starting to forget what it looks and feels like. When will it be cold? When will it snow again?
One day Freya finds a snow globe at the market. It plays the melody of a song that the townspeople sang for generations to call the snow home. Freya’s own grandmother used to sing it to her mother on cold winter nights. Every morning, Freya takes the snow globe outside and sings the song, but still there is no snow … until she has the idea to share the song. Soon everyone in town is singing it, and then, early one morning, the winds change. …
Jon-Erik Lappano and Byron Eggenschwiler have created an eloquent fable about remembering past traditions, our connection to nature and caring for a world threatened by climate change through shared effort and hope.
Freya has always loved the snow and the way it covers everything like powdered sugar. But the snow hasn’t come to her town for two winters, and she’s starting to forget what it looks and feels like. When will it be cold? When will it snow again?
One day Freya finds a snow globe at the market. It plays the melody of a song that the townspeople sang for generations to call the snow home. Freya’s own grandmother used to sing it to her mother on cold winter nights. Every morning, Freya takes the snow globe outside and sings the song, but still there is no snow … until she has the idea to share the song. Soon everyone in town is singing it, and then, early one morning, the winds change. …
Jon-Erik Lappano and Byron Eggenschwiler have created an eloquent fable about remembering past traditions, our connection to nature and caring for a world threatened by climate change through shared effort and hope.
44 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2021
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Jon-Erik Lappano
6 books11 followersJon-Erik Lappano is an award-winning Canadian author of books for children. His debut picture book, Tokyo Digs a Garden, was the 2016 Governor General’s Literary Award winner, and a finalist for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award and the Sakura Award.
Jon-Erik has a Masters of Education from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from York University, where he studied environment, culture and communication. Other things Jon-Erik can be found doing in the on and off hours include drinking too much coffee and forgetting why he walked into rooms.
Jon-Erik lives in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, with his wife, three daughters, and a growing assortment of pets.
Jon-Erik has a Masters of Education from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from York University, where he studied environment, culture and communication. Other things Jon-Erik can be found doing in the on and off hours include drinking too much coffee and forgetting why he walked into rooms.
Jon-Erik lives in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, with his wife, three daughters, and a growing assortment of pets.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 3, 2022
Beautifully illustrated, this is a wonderful story about tradition and connection. Love that it's a song that connects the people of the town.
December 1, 2021
A thoughtful, beautifully told and illustrated modern fable, Jon-Erik Lappano and Byron Eggenschwiler’s Song for the Snow takes readers on a captivating journey. A young girl named Freya eagerly waits and wishes for snow to fall again in her town. Fearing that her memories of snow and all the wonders, joys, and sounds it has brought her are disappearing, Freya contemplates what might bring it back. It has not snowed in two winters and she worries that the snow is lost. Her parents tell her that the snow may return one day again- but the conditions need to be just so. A visit at the local market one day leads Freya to a serendipitous discovery of a gorgeous melodic snow globe held by an older women at a stall- with an accompanying, extraordinary history and story. Freya ponders the story and song behind her new glittering snow globe, and soon discovers that her parents and grandparents did in fact used to know about and sing the song of the snow globe! A steady build to the story’s wonderful climax and finale are well worth the wait, and readers may breathe a satisfied sigh at the book’s end. Lappano’s storytelling is unfeigned and poignant, accomplishing a full, magically-tinged tale in a limited space. Eggenschwiler’s digital artwork is rich and textured, with a modern edge that simultaneously makes space for retro-feeling charm and colours (some of the full-page illustrative spreads are especially breathtaking!). A reflective story that works not only as terrific seasonal reading, but also smoothly and gently intertwines notes about the strength of community and global warming, Song for the Snow’s immersive storytelling and artwork makes for overall recommended reading. Readers looking for picture books along the lines of Seou Lee’s Bye, Penguin!, Kyo Maclear and Kenard Pak’s The Fog, Francesca’s Sanna’s My Earth, or Brooke Smith and Madeline Kloepper’s The Keeper of Wild Words might especially be drawn to Song for the Snow.
I received a copy of this title courtesy of Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.
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December 17, 2024I teared up! Beautiful illustrations and a beautiful story. Community is everything!
April 11, 2024
Una linda historia ilustrada que te regresa aquí infancia.
October 21, 2021
Song for the Snow by Jon-Erik Lappano and Byron Eggenschwiler has been on my radar for so long now. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this gorgeous story and I was thrilled when it finally arrived.
Freya has been longing for snow for quite some time. She remembers what it was like to play in it and feel the cold nip at her cheeks but it has been quite some time since she has gotten to experience the snow first hand. One day the snow just went away and hasn’t come back since. A chance encounter with mysterious woman at the market has Freya sharing the gift of the song for the snow with the town and perhaps creating a shift in the wind.
I immediately connected with this book living in Toronto having grown up near Ottawa. In my childhood, we had snowbanks piled over our heads but now, especially in Toronto, we barely have any snow which makes the winter time feel so long and dark. Grey everywhere. I could use a snow song to bring back the snow and give us something to celebrate in the winter. It’s also an observation about how the world is changing, not having as much snow as we once did thanks to our warming climate. This is not a story about global warming or climate change. This is a story about magic, community and traditions; how when we all work towards a common goal and use knowledge from our past, we can create a special type of magic.
Jon-Erik Lappano has a beautiful writing style, infusing all of the pages with the most incredible descriptions and he creates such a cozy atmosphere with his words. There is magic in his words that will leave readers feeling wrapped in a warm cozy blanket with a delicious cup of hot chocolate.
Byron Eggenschwiler has infused his special illustrative magic into the pages of this delightful story. A little different from his other work but equally as beautiful, it is easy to be swept away reading this story. Also, we LOVED the sneaky little bunnies we found on a few paged of the story!
Freya has been longing for snow for quite some time. She remembers what it was like to play in it and feel the cold nip at her cheeks but it has been quite some time since she has gotten to experience the snow first hand. One day the snow just went away and hasn’t come back since. A chance encounter with mysterious woman at the market has Freya sharing the gift of the song for the snow with the town and perhaps creating a shift in the wind.
I immediately connected with this book living in Toronto having grown up near Ottawa. In my childhood, we had snowbanks piled over our heads but now, especially in Toronto, we barely have any snow which makes the winter time feel so long and dark. Grey everywhere. I could use a snow song to bring back the snow and give us something to celebrate in the winter. It’s also an observation about how the world is changing, not having as much snow as we once did thanks to our warming climate. This is not a story about global warming or climate change. This is a story about magic, community and traditions; how when we all work towards a common goal and use knowledge from our past, we can create a special type of magic.
Jon-Erik Lappano has a beautiful writing style, infusing all of the pages with the most incredible descriptions and he creates such a cozy atmosphere with his words. There is magic in his words that will leave readers feeling wrapped in a warm cozy blanket with a delicious cup of hot chocolate.
Byron Eggenschwiler has infused his special illustrative magic into the pages of this delightful story. A little different from his other work but equally as beautiful, it is easy to be swept away reading this story. Also, we LOVED the sneaky little bunnies we found on a few paged of the story!
May 7, 2023
Look, let's get something straight. No matter how many people sing the same song, that will not change the weather.
Besides, where are you likely to find a large group of people who sing the same song?
* In a Heaven? Sure. That can I believe.
* But here on Earth? That's not how our reality works.
Hey, I'll give this book FIVE STARS in case it kindles hope in children. (And their adult readers.) Some well meant fantasy in a picture book never hurt anyone.
BUT I'D LIKE TO TALK BACK TO THE PERSON AT GOODREADS WHO WROTE THE INTRO HERE:
"Jon-Erik Lappano and Byron Eggenschwiler have created an eloquent fable about remembering past traditions, our connection to nature and caring for a world threatened by climate change through shared effort and hope."
Hello, none of that description was earned by this story. It was a song about singing and community. All that wishey-hopey meaning is not related to the story that's supposedly being summarized for readers and buyers of "Song for the Snow."
For what it's worth, this very strong idealist really doesn't like it when people pretend that they're doing something that sounds wonderful, but it's empty talk. Please, let's not devalue real ideals like countering climate change while claiming this goal can be accomplished... by what? Singing a song.
To me that's like pretending to end gun violence, not through legislation and enforcement, but through "thoughts and prayers."
Besides, where are you likely to find a large group of people who sing the same song?
* In a Heaven? Sure. That can I believe.
* But here on Earth? That's not how our reality works.
Hey, I'll give this book FIVE STARS in case it kindles hope in children. (And their adult readers.) Some well meant fantasy in a picture book never hurt anyone.
BUT I'D LIKE TO TALK BACK TO THE PERSON AT GOODREADS WHO WROTE THE INTRO HERE:
"Jon-Erik Lappano and Byron Eggenschwiler have created an eloquent fable about remembering past traditions, our connection to nature and caring for a world threatened by climate change through shared effort and hope."
Hello, none of that description was earned by this story. It was a song about singing and community. All that wishey-hopey meaning is not related to the story that's supposedly being summarized for readers and buyers of "Song for the Snow."
For what it's worth, this very strong idealist really doesn't like it when people pretend that they're doing something that sounds wonderful, but it's empty talk. Please, let's not devalue real ideals like countering climate change while claiming this goal can be accomplished... by what? Singing a song.
To me that's like pretending to end gun violence, not through legislation and enforcement, but through "thoughts and prayers."
September 22, 2021
Freya misses the snow that used to come to her town, but it has been a long time since she has seen it. When she visits a market, she is given the gift of a snow globe and a long forgotten magical melody. For days she sings and even shares the words with the students in her class. Soon the whole town is singing the tune and the snow is finally called home. A book that reminds us of the beauty of our world and the importance of tradition.
December 7, 2022
This book is so beautiful!!
It's not every day I can get a class quiet and fully paying attention to a story that isn't funny. But I felt like all my classes were feeling this one! The illustrations are gorgeous, especially the page where Freya is looking at the snow globe. And I think the magic in this story just speaks to people.
It's not every day I can get a class quiet and fully paying attention to a story that isn't funny. But I felt like all my classes were feeling this one! The illustrations are gorgeous, especially the page where Freya is looking at the snow globe. And I think the magic in this story just speaks to people.
September 22, 2021
Super pretty book for young children.
Touches on the power of hope, story and song to remember what we miss.
It touches on the impact of global warming as observed by a child (snow not falling as early, winters with no snow, ground not crunching from frost), without delving into explanations.
Touches on the power of hope, story and song to remember what we miss.
It touches on the impact of global warming as observed by a child (snow not falling as early, winters with no snow, ground not crunching from frost), without delving into explanations.
November 9, 2021
Wow! Such a beautiful story! Thank you to the Anansi Publishing for the advanced electronic copy of this book. Loved the magical story, loved the illustrations, can’t wait to share it with my students.
Want to read
March 27, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
February 12, 2022
2.5 stars for this picture book. I found the muted colors dreary when combined with the story of wishing for snow.
Story value: 2/5
Story enjoyment: 2.5/5
Reread-ability: 2/5
Illustrations:2.5/5
Story value: 2/5
Story enjoyment: 2.5/5
Reread-ability: 2/5
Illustrations:2.5/5
December 17, 2022
As a snow-hearted girl like Freya in this story, I found much to love here.
November 27, 2021
I received a copy of Song for the Snow from Groundwood Books in exchange for an honest review.
Song for the Snow is a beautifully illustrated picture book about the beauty of snow and shows a deep appreciation for this act of nature that we may be taking for granted as the weather gets warmer. In this town, snow has not fallen in a long time and the Freya wishes for it to return. She believes that the snow has lost its way and an encounter at the market tells her of a song that used to be sung to bring the snow. She begins to sing the song after her mother recalls the words from her own childhood. Freya takes on the song herself and sings it every day, watching the skies. And when it doesn't, she continues to sing it, getting her friends into the song until others in her town joins in. Soon, a miracle occurs and the snow returns to blanket the town in a beautiful white layer. Truly a beautiful book about winter, snow, and the wonder of nature.
Song for the Snow is a beautifully illustrated picture book about the beauty of snow and shows a deep appreciation for this act of nature that we may be taking for granted as the weather gets warmer. In this town, snow has not fallen in a long time and the Freya wishes for it to return. She believes that the snow has lost its way and an encounter at the market tells her of a song that used to be sung to bring the snow. She begins to sing the song after her mother recalls the words from her own childhood. Freya takes on the song herself and sings it every day, watching the skies. And when it doesn't, she continues to sing it, getting her friends into the song until others in her town joins in. Soon, a miracle occurs and the snow returns to blanket the town in a beautiful white layer. Truly a beautiful book about winter, snow, and the wonder of nature.
October 25, 2023
(more 3.5 stars) loved the illustrations, and the idea of people joining together in a forgotten song to call the snow home was sweet
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews